Oh, how times have changed. When last we saw Daniel Bryan, he was celebrating a career-defining WWE World Heavyweight Championship win at WrestleMania 30 and a series of defiant victories over The Authority. Now, the honeymoon has seemingly ended in many ways for the newly wedded Bryan, who returns to a WWE Universe where monsters dwell and Evolution rules all. What awaits the “Yes!” Man and the rest of the roster less than two weeks before Extreme Rules? WWE.com offers an early glimpse at things to come.

Evil awakened

A look at the monster Kane.

Stephanie McMahon might not have created a monster when she goaded Kane into embracing his darker side last Monday night, but she definitely brought it out of hiding. Donning the mask that’s been associated with some of sports-entertainments’ most nightmarish acts, WWE’s diabolical Director of Operations savagely assaulted Big Show after WWE Main Event went off the air last Tuesday night on WWE Network, proving that The Devil’s Favorite Demon had truly returned.

With a bone-chilling mission to demolish Daniel Bryan on The Authority’s behalf, what havoc will The Big Red Monster unleash on the new WWE World Heavyweight Champion? 

Crossing the line (in the sand)

“In life, you either adapt or you perish. That is Evolution.” —Triple H

Last Wednesday on WWE.com, Triple H issued an ultimatum to The Shield: Either the trio grovels at The Game’s feet and apologizes for their recent defiance against The Authority or they face continued consequences for their actions. After relative radio silence from The Hounds of Justice, The Cerebral Assassin announced on SmackDown that it would be the reunited Evolution vs. Roman Reigns, Dean Ambrose & Seth Rollins at Extreme Rules in a Six-Man Tag Team Match.

With The Shield no doubt still recovering from a vicious beat down at the hands of Triple H, Randy Orton & Batista last week, will Rollins, Reigns & Ambrose re-emerge on Raw to confront their Extreme Rules opponents?

Big E bracketology

Cesaro & Paul Heyman discuss advancing in the No. 1 Contender to the Intercontinental Championship Tournament.

In the semi-finals of the Intercontinental Championship No. 1 Contender’s Tournament taking place on this week’s Raw, it will be Rob Van Dam vs. Cesaro and Sheamus vs. Bad News Barrett. The winners will advance to a final round to determine who will face reigning titleholder Big E at Extreme Rules in less than two weeks.

Few have known RVD over the years quite like ECW mastermind Paul Heyman, the architect behind the end of The Undertaker’s Streak and the vocal advocate of “The King of Swing,” Cesaro. Despite their prior association in Extreme Championship Wrestling, there will be no love lost between Van Dam and Heyman as an Intercontinental Championship opportunity at Extreme Rules hangs in the balance. As for The Celtic Warrior and Barrett, it will be a true battle of brawlers as Sheamus pits his punishing Brogue Kick against the formidable Bad News elbow. Who will survive the next round of this single-elimination tournament?  

Tamina’s time?

The Divas of WWE clash in a Battle Royal to become the No. 1 Contender for the Divas Title.

On last week’s edition of WWE Main Event on WWE Network, Tamina Snuka outlasted nine other Divas in an intensely competitive Battle Royal, earning the right to challenge newcomer Paige for the Divas Championship at Extreme Rules.

As the muscled enforcer of prior titleholder AJ Lee — who held the butterfly-emblazoned prize for a record 295 days — Tamina has long been in the presence of the Divas Championship. Now, however, she looks to rise to the top of the Divas division on her own. Will Tamina continue to assert her dominance this week on Raw? Also, what challenges face the 21-year-old Paige in the lead-up to her first title defense? 

Extreme measures

With a little help from some doctored images, John Cena had a bit of fun at The Wyatt Family’s expense last Monday night, but the jokes ceased when the Cenation leader threw down the most serious of challenges: Extreme Rules. Cena vs. Wyatt. Steel Cage.

The Eater of Worlds, who has vowed to go “to new extremes” since Cena defeated him at WrestleMania 30, was eerily giddy at the proposition of such a hellacious encounter.

With Cena and Wyatt’s anticipated Show of Shows rematch set to transpire in less than two weeks on WWE Network and pay-per-view, will “The Man of 1,000 Truths” gain a psychological advantage over the embodiment of “Hustle, Loyalty and Respect,” or will Cena’s virtue continue to counter Wyatt’s mind games?

Don’t miss Raw tonight at 8/7 CT on USA Network, and be sure to tune in to WWE Network for the Raw Pre-Show at 7:30 and Backstage Pass immediately following the show!